Health centers help navigate various options

Aug. 11, 2013

Kathy Wood-Dobbins

Written by

Kathy Wood-Dobbins

While full implementation of health care reform takes effect Jan. 1, people will be able to enroll in the health insurance marketplace (also known as the exchange) in just a few short weeks. Beginning on Oct. 1, more people will have more options for affordable health care services.

For many, health insurance — provided through an employer, a government program such as Medicare or other means — has become a benefit that is easy to take for granted. But for Tennesseans who have been left out of health insurance coverage because of a pre-existing condition, a job that doesn’t provide coverage, or difficulty affording expensive premiums, having access to health insurance is a momentous occasion. Chronic illness that has gone untreated or vital preventive screenings that have been postponed can now be addressed. Having insurance improves access to good preventive and primary care, saving lives and dollars.

It can be difficult to imagine the challenges and questions that may arise for those who may be eligible for insurance for the very first time or after an extended lapse. With different options offered through the marketplace, it’s important to understand the insurance options and make an informed decision. Community health centers are stepping up to the challenge in order to assist members of their communities who are eligible for coverage under the new law.

Last month, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced $150 million in Health Resources and Services Administration grant funding to more than 1,100 health centers nationwide to enroll uninsured Americans in new health coverage options. In Tennessee, 25 organizations were awarded more than $3 million to hire outreach workers who will assist about 70,000 people through the enrollment process.

These new outreach workers are neighbors helping neighbors. Working out of community health centers across the state, they are committed to educating patients as well as community members about new health insurance options and helping them determine if they will be eligible for coverage. These outreach and enrollment efforts illustrate what community health centers are all about, as trusted community members who offer face-to-face assistance.

Just as community health centers provide their health care services to all, without regard to insurance status or ability to pay, health center outreach workers stand ready to offer guidance and information to all who seek it. They are putting a familiar face on what might be considered a complex and unfamiliar process. (People may also obtain additional information by visiting the www.healthcare.gov website.)

Tennessee has 26 federally qualified health centers operating more than 200 clinic sites. In 2012, these centers served more than 384,000 patients. Those numbers will grow as the new health care law makes care more accessible. This will allow community health centers to reach more Tennesseans who will benefit from high-quality primary and preventive health care.

At the end of the day, having access to affordable health care when you need it is a local issue. The steps we take to improve our residents’ overall health and to address disparities in health begin one person at a time, one community at a time. The comprehensive, community-based care that Tennessee’s community health centers provide strengthens people and, in turn, makes Tennessee communities stronger, too. That is something we all can celebrate.